Comanche elevator forces

[aignatenko]

Hi!

I'm now tuning my FFB Yoke to match expected behaviour for Comanche.
I didn't fly Comanche in reality, so I'd like to ask a question here.

How Comanche's movable stabilator behaves on ground with engines turned off and yoke unlocked? Are there any forces resulting in yoke movement backwards or forwards? Or is it balanced, so the yoke remains still at any position? Also, does trim wheel rotation on the ground influence the forces on the yoke on the standing aircraft?

Thanks!

[AKar]

I've not seen Comanche up close and personal in real life, but the stabilator appears to be similar in idea it is in Cherokees and its descendants. In that case it would be statically balanced, and would remain in whatever position you leave it, and would move with little effort in either direction. That is, you don't need to lift it by muscle.

The trim is aerodynamic, and therefore has no effect on the stabilator control force at rest.

-Esa

[scottb613]

Hi!

I'm now tuning my FFB Yoke to match expected behaviour for Comanche.
I didn't fly Comanche in reality, so I'd like to ask a question here.

How Comanche's movable stabilator behaves on ground with engines turned off and yoke unlocked? Are there any forces resulting in yoke movement backwards or forwards? Or is it balanced, so the yoke remains still at any position? Also, does trim wheel rotation on the ground influence the forces on the yoke on the standing aircraft?

Thanks!

Hi Folks,

I fly a Beech with a stabilator - at rest - with engine off - the yoke is fully forward - resting on the stops - if you pulled the yoke back and let go it would slam back into the stops hard... Once the engine is running - the prop wash moves it to a more neutral position...

Regards,
Scott


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[aignatenko]

Thanks!
However, the answers are quite opposite

[AKar]

What I'm saying is that all the stabilators of the Pipers I know of are statically balanced so that they don't fall trailing edge down when released but remain where left. Comanche is not one of those I know, but it is similar - though not the same - to the Cherokees and ones that inherit its stabilator design: it is made of a single-piece, all-flying tail plane and of a tube that extends forward from it, with a bobweight at the end of it to which the control cables attach.

It would have to be someone who's got a Comanche around him who confirms.

-Esa

[aignatenko]

Thanks Esa! Very clear and helpful explanantion.